BJP demands farm loan remission up to Rs.50,000

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) Stating that farmers were not getting remunerative prices for their produce, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday asked the government to write off all agricultural loans up to Rs.50,000 as a one-time measure to help farmers reeling under debt burden. The party also asked the government to accept the recommendations of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) about the minimum support price (MSP) for various crops.

Javadekar blamed this on “not assuring remunerative prices to the farmers. If the prices had been assured, the farmers would have definitely repaid their outstanding loans. Loan waiver should be treated as overdue payment to farmers being adjusted in their loan accounts.”

He said: “The Congress is shedding crocodile tears on the condition of farmers without any concrete action plan. It is the Congress economics, which has deprived Indian farmers, of their dues and they have never got remunerative prices. The agrarian crisis won’t be over till remunerative prices and irrigation facility is made available to the Indian farmers.”

Javadekar suggested heavy public investment in accelerated irrigation projects, changes in the Land Acquisition Act 1894, more institutional credit, farm income guarantee insurance scheme and greater productivity with technology transfer to revive agriculture.